Various preview modes

One of the things that we've come to expect when working with computer-baseddesign is that whatever you see on your screen should match what you expect tosee in printed output, or on other computer screens if for example you'recreating Web graphics.However, Illustrator does have various preview modes.These various preview modes really serve two basic functions in Illustrator.The first function is well, giving you a really good idea of what your artworkis going to look like in its final form, whether that artwork will be appearingon a computer screen or in print.

But there's also a view mode in Illustrator that gives you a better idea ofthe structure of your artwork.In fact, you'll probably end up using that one more often.Let's take a closer look.I'll zoom in on this artboard right here. Click on it to make it active.Press Command+0 to zoom in on it.And I'm currently right now in Illustrator's default mode called Preview mode.You can see what mode you are in simply by looking over here in thatdocument tab itself.It currently says CMYK.That's the color model my document is set to and it tells me the preview mode.However, you can choose between different preview modes by going to the Viewmenu and looking at the first three settings that appear here.

First is a setting here called Outline mode.Outline mode is a way to view your artwork from the perspective of structure.In other words, rid your mind of color or actual appearance itself. You justwant to see the raw vector paths that exist inside of your artwork.The keyboard shortcut for that is Command+Y and it's actually a very helpfulmode to look at, because it gives you an idea of how the art is built inside of Illustrator.When you have very detailed artwork or artwork that overlaps itself, it may beeasier for you to actually make selections in this viewing mode.

Also if you are tracing objects and you just want to get a really good idea ofwhat your paths are doing, this is the mode for that.Again Command+Y is the toggle to go between Preview mode and Outline mode.Now, Illustrator has an additional two modes, which help you identify how yourartwork will appear in different mediums.For example, I am going to go to View and then choose Pixel Preview mode.Pixel Preview mode is use to simulate how your artwork will appear whendisplayed on a television or on the web.For example, if you zoom in you'll actually see the anti-aliasing or the pixelsthat occur on those devices.

However, if my design is going to be used in print and I want to see what thisis going to look likewhen it appears in final print, I can get a very accurate preview by going tothe View menu and choosing something called Overprint Preview.This was actually a setting that was added to Illustrator to help you seecertain transparency effects.For example, there is a way for you to define something called an overprintwhere you specify that certain inks mix on press to create special effect.Using the Overprint Preview mode you'd be able to see the result of thoseeffects right on your screen.

Perhaps more importantly though the Overprint Preview mode gives you a veryaccurate display when using spot colors.For example, many designers when designing print pieces may use somethingcalled Pantone colors.We'll talk more about color in another chapter, but for now know if you areusing Pantone spot colors and you want to get an accurate display of what thatcolor is going to look like when it gets printed, using the Overprint Previewsetting is the best way for you to see those colors.It's important to know that you can actually work and use either the OverprintPreview mode or the Pixel Preview modethe same way that you might work with the Preview mode in Illustrator.

However, the Overprint Preview mode is a little bit slower when it comes to redraw.Also even if you are in Overprint Preview mode when you press Command+Y to viewoutlines and you press Command+Y to come back to Preview, it doesn't return youto the Overprint Preview mode.It actually returns you back to the regular Preview mode.It's certainly important to know that all these preview modes exist, but realizeon a day-to-day basis you are probably just be dealing with the Outline and theregular Preview mode.Just know that these additional preview modes are available to you shouldyou ever need them.

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Author

Released

4/30/2010

In Illustrator CS5 Essential Training, author Mordy Golding explains the core concepts and techniques that apply to any workflow in Illustrator, whether designing for print, the web, or assets for other applications. This course includes a detailed explanation of the elements that make up vector graphics—paths, strokes, and fills—and shows how to use each of the Illustrator drawing tools. Also demonstrated are techniques for combining and cleaning up paths, organizing paths into groups and layers, text editing, working with color, effects, and much more. Exercise files accompany the course.

Topics include:

Setting up a new document based on the output destination

Using rules, guides, and grids

Making detailed selections

Drawing and editing paths with the Pen and Pencil tools

Creating compound vector shapes

Understanding the difference between point and area text

Applying live effects

Creating color swatches

Transforming artwork with Rotation, Scale, and Transform effects

Placing images

Working with masks

Printing, saving, and exporting artwork

Skill Level Beginner

10h 37m

Duration

3,297,339

Views

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Q: Despite clicking the rectangle icon on the toolbar, as shown in the video, the other tool shapes are not accessible in Illustrator. The rectangle is usable, but the star, ellipse, etc. are not, and do not appear anywhere in the toolbar. What is causing this problem?

A: These tools are grouped together, so to access them, click and hold the mouse for a second until the other tools appear. If that isn't happening, reset the Illustrator preferences file. To do so, quit Illustrator and then relaunch the application while pressing and holding the Ctrl+Alt+Shift keys. Once the Illustrator splash screen appears, release the keys and that will reset the preferences file.

Q: In the video “What are vector graphics,” the author states that if he creates a 1 inch x 1 inch Photoshop file at 300ppi image, there are 300 pixels in that image. Is that correct?

A: This statement is by the author was not totally correct. If the resolution is 300ppi, it means that there are 300 pixels across one inch, both vertically and horizontally. That would mean you'd have 90,000 pixels in a 1 inch x 1 inch image at 300 ppi.